Natural Learning Group

By Sophie Young – Facilitator

Natural Learning is a weekly-run group for parents and children alike, who’s focus at heart is connection; connection between child to child, parent to parent, both to each other and all to the land we are immersed within. Free-flowing in form, our underlying premise is intention, with time spent unfolding each week in a responsive approach to our surroundings and the seasons. There are no urgent tasks to be done or outcomes to be measured. Instead we seek to unearth the intrinsic value in each individual’s evolving growth and wisdom, attending to purposeful engagement in simple, everyday activities.

…we hope each child who attends will be amongst the carriers of these seeds into the future

In holding an environment such as this, that encourages one another to be met just as we are, we step into something that, in these times, is sacred and precious for us all. As we well know, daily life, regardless of age, is filled in every corner and turn with pressure to do, strive and achieve. At Natural Learning we choose to weave an alternate and gentle web of allowing; trusting our children to follow their instinct and desires, to step into their own leadership and fundamentally let their spirits breathe within the safe reach of caring eyes, hearts and hands. This is in remembrance of times that are unlike today and we hope each child who attends will be amongst the carriers of these seeds into the future, when our ability to be and grow from this place stands to be almost lost and forgotten.

You might find us making bread around the fire. Or building a den in the woods.

What you might experience at a session? You might find us making bread around the fire. Or building a den in the woods. Or harvesting tomatoes and grapes and blackberries. Or cooking up pots of jam with our pickings. Or drinking tea. Lots and lots of tea. You might come upon a child in tears or witness a parent having a much-needed release. Or you may, and most likely will, watch joy bouncing from child to parent and skipping over the land with squeals of laughter and wild exploration. You will, we hope, discover a community rich in kinship and attunement and encounter a rare and treasured place of inner-resource that lingers long after the session has finished. One that will, quite possibly, call you and your beloved children back again into Natural Learning’s unique embrace.

Natural Learning has been running at Embercombe for 7 years and is emerging as a self run group where parents and children can experience, connect and learn in nature. The last session at Embercombe this year will be held on 25th September 2018, Natural Learning will then be held at a different venue over the winter. To enquire about the group please contact Sophie through their Facebook page Embercombe NaturalLearning Comminuty.